Can VR modeling replace freehand sketching in early-stage product design?
Preliminary design decisions shape a product’s entire lifecycle, yet freehand sketching remains disconnected from digital workflows. Our study explores natural VR modeling as a viable alternative, enabling intuitive, CAD-compatible 3D modeling. A controlled user study compared VR modeling and sketching in terms of usability, efficiency, and creativity. Results show that VR enhances spatial understanding and speeds up conceptual modeling, bridging the gap between ideation and digital workflows. However, sketching remains advantageous for precision and detail. With further refinements, could VR become the new standard for early design? Our findings provide insights for engineers and designers alike.